Arrigate

The findings of a study by the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health show that individuals with mental health issues do not need complete recovery to go back to work, and for many such people, returning to work actually speeds up their recovery. The report, entitled ‘Common Health Problems at Work’, prepared by Linda Seymour, evaluates the evidence provided in international research on techniques to help those with anxiety and depression to carry on with work or return to work following ill health.

According to the report, individuals with anxiety and depression need psychological therapy and moral support to encourage them to return to work. The study further says that advice from a third-party at work is as vital as psychological therapy to help people stay in their jobs and return to work after sickness leave. Both were needed for complete recovery. The study also found how managers and supervisors react to the individual’s ill-health also plays an important role in determining the chances of him sticking on to his job.

Sainsbury Centre Head of Policy’s Linda Seymour said that study had shown that those with mental health issues can return to work successfully before they have recovered completely. But support must be given by specialist employment advisers as well as access to therapy and a qualified GP.

She added that studies have demonstrated that good health is assured if individuals continue working and that many unnecessarily lose jobs resulting from mental health issues. We have to make sure that other than the ‘fit note’ given by the GPs on what the individual can do and what he cannot and the Government’s pledge to enhance access to therapy, good employment advice is given to employers and employees.

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